Button



July-"1" 3; 1937- I R. TUCKER 2,087,074

- BUTTON i Filed Aug. 17, 1956 INVENT OR,

TEDSTAT Patented dulyi13,1937.

I v BUTTON f Ralph- Tucker, Larchmont, N. Y. ApplicationAugust 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,343

" Aromas. (01. 24-113) This invention relates in generalto buttons and in particular to ornamental buttons.

have shown my invention as applied to a conventional shirt button it is to be understood that 5 it is not intendedto be limited to that particular type of buttornbu't may be applied to buttons of all types, and as to certain phases thereof, it may have otherapplicationsthan to buttons: Buttons embodying the invention of this application may be used on uniforms, military livery, and thelike, which ornamentation may bear appropriateinsignia.

Among the objectsof my invention is the provision of a button consisting of two members one or whichmay be directly attached to the garmentor other article to which it is to be applied, and the other member of which is ornamental in character, and is adapted for removable attachment to the'iirst member. Among otherobjects of my invention are the Provision "in a button of an ornamental member that may be readily attached thereto and: removed therefrom, and may be used interchangeably with other buttons, the provision of a mem- Y her that may be applied to a button so as to hide the securing threads passing through the .button, the provision in a two part button, of means for securing one of saidparts to the other in such a way that it cannot be readily displaced, andis not I 3 at all displaceable by pressure upon theouter face thereof.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appearor be pointed out I have shown an illustrative embodi- 5 ment of my invention in the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a button constructed according to my invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have there illustrated a button comprising two parts, one of which, A,'is in its main outlines of the conventional shirt button type such as is customarily made ofpearl and having button holes 5 H0 therein, and I have further shown a part B adapted for association with the part A. The part B is shown as ornamental in character, and I have indicated a letter C as applied in relief thereto, whereby'is suggested the use of the oma- 5o mental insert for displaying the initials of a wearer.

It will be observed that while the exterior outline of the portion A is of the conventional shirt button type, that I have shown the central por- 1 55 tions thereof sunk in or recessed to a greater ex- While I the proper relation,

be held in assembled relation.

tent than is customarylasshown at Rgand the side walls of the button-holes are shown as being undercut or tapered upwardly as indicated at H2 in Figure 2,. 7

The portion B is shown as of circular contour and of upwardly convex configuration, with prongs I I6 projecting therefrom, and these prongs are shown as bent or bellied outward and as provided with an outwardly inclined base or root portion and an inwardly bent free tip portion. The inwardly bent tip portions will serve to guide the prongs H5 into the buton-holes H0 whenthe parts A and B are brought together into and are pressed against each other, the prongs I It being bent inwardly during this process. When the parts arein their final assembled relation, as shown in Figure 2, the prongs I It will again move outwardly,dueto their resilience and will engage the undercut portions H2 as a result of whichthe parts A and B will In Figure 2 I have indicated the fabric of a garment at I24, and numeral I26 indicates the threads for serving to secure the button to the fabric, these threads passing through a pair of button holes, as customary. It will be observed that the space between the parts A and B is sufficient to accommodate the threads, so that the latteroffer no resistance to the insertion of the part B into the part A. It will be understood that forthe purpose of obtaining more space to accommodate the threadihthe depth of the recess in the button may be increased, while the member B may be made more convex than shown, with the same end in view.

By viewing Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that when the parts A and B are assembled, that in appearance as well as in effect they constitute a unit, and to enhance this effect the parts A and B may be made as shown, that is relatively contoured so that their outer surfaces merge. By reason of the separability, however, great variety of finish and the use of different materials is made possible.

tically no possibility of their becoming separated.

By making sure that the outer walls of the insert B are su'nk below the adjacent walls of the part A, the insert B is still more effectively protected against removal. Such a construction is indicated in Figure 2.

Another advantage lies in the enhanced ornamental appearance of the button due to the arrangement whereby the button, in which the securing threads are ordinarily exposed, and which is therefore unsightly, becomes highly ornamental because the securing threads are effectively hidden from view by an ornamental element, which also additionally serves to protect the threads against damage.

An outstanding advantage of my invention is that feature thereof which permits a manufacturer of garments, such as shirts, to deliver to a distributor a garment, conventional in type except that the buttons thereof will be of the type herein disclosed. The ornamental feature may then be either added or omitted at the option of the purchaser, without impairing the attractiveness of the garment. The wearer of a garment to which my buttons are applied will have the satisfaction of having his initial or initials appear on the garment, so as to identify it with the wearer, or may have an emblem, motto, campaign slogan or other features associated therewith. The dealer in garments on the other hand will stock his garments as heretofore mentioned with buttons having the insert B omitted therefrom, so that he is prepared, with a minimum amount of stock, to provide the customer with a garment in which the ornamental feature is omitted from the buttons, or with one to the buttons of which any desired initial, emblem or other ornamental feature is applied.

While only two prongs H6 have been indicated and this number is obviously sufficient for the proper securing together of the parts, it will be clear that any desired number may be used, it being understood of course that appropriate button holes, suitable in number and position, are provided in the button. It should be remembered, however, that the button holes may exceed the prongs in number.

I have found that where the button is of pearl and the ornamental insert is made of metal, that a very effective ornamental combination may be produced. The insert for example may have the letter or other ornament thereon gold plated, so as to stand out from the background, which maybe coated with enamel of any desired color. However, it will be obvious that other materials may be found equally suitable, and for certain purposes even more desirable. It would be superfluous to mention any particular ones among such materials. It will further be understood that while I have described prongs for effecting the securing action, that other forms of securing members may be used, and that while the prongs H6 have been described as depending for their action on their inherent resiliency, that such property is not essential, as their snapping into place may be secured by other means. For certain purposes, too, it may be found to be desirable to make the prongs or other securing means so that they can be readily given a permanent deformation as where, for instance, they are made of soft metal.

While I have herein disclosed one illustrative embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that it may be embodied in many other forms, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit thereof, and that the disclosure herein is intended to be by way of illustration merely, and that I do not limit myself in any way other than as called for by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A button provided with perforations adapted to receive a securing thread, a cap'adapted for association with said button and having portions thereon adapted to pass into said perforations and to hold said button and cap together against separation.

2. A button provided with perforations adapted to receive a securing thread, a cap adapted for associationwith said button and having resilient portions thereon adapted to pass into said perforations and to hold said button and cap together against separation.

3. A button provided with perforations adapted to receive a securing thread, said perforations having undercut walls, a cap adapted for association with said button and having portions thereon adapted to pass into said perforations and to engage said undercut portions thereof, and to hold said button and cap together against separation.

4. A button provided with perforations adapted to receive a securing thread, said perforations having undercut walls, a cap adapted for association with said button and having resilient portions thereon adaptedto pass into said perforations and to engage said undercut portions thereof, and to hold said button and cap together against separation. I

RALPH TUCKER. 

